Cuatrecasas advises Acciona on securing financing to build a desalination plant in Casablanca
Cuatrecasas has advised Acciona, a member of the Al Baidaa Desalination Company consortium alongside Green of Africa and AfriquiaGaz, on the formalisation of project contracts for the construction of a desalination plant in Casablanca (Morocco), the largest in the world powered entirely by renewable energy.
his investment will be executed through a public-private partnership contract with Morocco’s Office National d’Électricité et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE). Moreover, the project is financed with 80% debt and 20% equity, underscoring strong institutional support. The financial institutions involved include FIEM through ICO, Société Générale, Attijariwafa Bank, Banque Centrale Populaire, Bank of Africa, Caixa, and COFIDES.
In response to the growing demand for drinking water in Morocco’s economic capital, the project will deliver the largest desalination plant in Africa. With a capacity of 300 million m³ per year, it will serve the needs of 7.5 million people and potentially provide irrigation for agriculture. Specifically, it will supply water to the cities of Casablanca, Settat, Berrechid, and Bir Jdid, as well as to neighbouring regions.
From a technological standpoint, the plant will use reverse osmosis powered entirely by renewable energy sourced from the Bir Anzarane wind farm (360 MW), which will allocate 47% of its output to the facility. In addition, Acciona will be in charge of construction, which is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2028, as well as the operation and maintenance of the plant for a 27-year period.
The firm team responsible for advising on the project was made up of Carlos Lasarte, David Vidal, Irene Sanz and Alejandra Azinovic, from Finance.
